Awards and Scholarships

  Memorial Scholarship - $1000   
The Mountain Plains Adult Education Association (MPAEA) offers up to $1000 annually to a graduate student enrolled in a graduate degree program in adult education or closely related field or in a college or university located in one of the eight Mountain Plains member states.

The primary intent of this scholarship is for tuition, books and school-related expenses. The MPAEA Scholarship Committee will select a Memorial Scholarship winner plus two alternatives, all of whom will be notified one month after the application deadline. The recipient of the Memorial Scholarship for Graduate Studies will be announced at the MPAEA Annual Conference. This scholarship is valid for the following academic year.

  Student Scholarship - $500   
The Mountain Plains Adult Education Association (MPAEA) offers student(s) in adult education scholarships of up to $500 to each state organization per MPAEA member state. The state organization must match the $500 in order to receive the scholarship.
This scholarship may be used to attend conferences or to engage in other student leadership activities during the year which runs from the beginning of the MPAEA Annual Conference, through the MPAEA Annual Conference of the following year.

The MPAEA Scholarship Committee will grant each state organization one scholarship based on the scholarship criteria. Each state organization must create their own selection process to determine the winning applicant to forward to the MPAEA scholarship committee.

 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: To be eligible, the state organization must have paid its affiliate dues for the current year and with the understanding that it will match the $500 for student(s) to engage in the stated student leadership activity.

  Professional Development Scholarship - $500 
Each year, the Mountain Plains Education Association (MPAEA) offers professional development scholarships of up to $500 to one recipient per MPAEA member state. This scholarship may be used to attend conferences or to engage in other staff development activities during the year, which runs from the beginning of the MPAEA Annual Conference through the MPAEA Annual Conference of the following year. In most cases, recipients use the scholarship to defray expenses for the MPAEA Annual Conference; however, other functions related to lifelong learning may be considered.
The MPAEA Professional Development Committee will select winners from the scholarship plus one alternate (should the first grantee be unable to fulfill the terms of the scholarship). Recipients and alternate will be notified one month after the application deadline.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: To be eligible the applicant must be a current member of MPAEA or submit a membership application with this request.


  State Association Professional Development Grant - $500  
The Mountain Plains Adult Education Association (MPAEA) provides $500 per year to each member state for the purpose of encouraging and supporting professional development activities designed to benefit the members of the state association. The MPAEA board members from each state will be liaison with the state associations in directing the professional activity. Professional development activities should take place between June 1 and May 30 of each year. The request for MPAEA State Professional Development Funds should be submitted at least 60 days prior to the activity. After the activity has been completed, the board members will submit a written report to the MPAEA Board.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: To be eligible, the state and its association must have current membership in MPAEA.

MPAEA AWARDS
Purpose and Criteria

All nominees must be a current resident of one of the eight states comprising the Mountain
Plains membership area: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah
and Wyoming. The first three awards are given my MPAEA. (Click HERE for the nomination form)

AWARD OF MERIT
This award is to honor an individual who has made an outstanding contribution towards
furthering the concept of adult education as a process continuing throughout life.
The recipient must be a member of MPAEA. The contribution may be on a community,
state, regional or national level that has been made within the last year to several years. This is the highest award given by the association. One award is given per year.

LAY LEADER OF THE YEAR
This award is to honor people in professions outside education who have proven to be a close”friend” to adult education and lifelong learning. Examples include legislators,
community leaders, business leaders, religious leaders, etc.. The recipient need not be
a member of MPAEA. One award is given per year.

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE (formerly the Award of Commendation)
This award is to honor an individual who has made significant contributions to the
advancement of adult education at the state or local level. The recipient must be a member
of his/her state affiliate or MPAEA. One award per state is given.

The next three awards are given by the host state at the annual conference.

Educator of the Year Award
Selected at the discretion of the state hosting the annual conference (no specific
criteria).

Legislator of the Year Award
This award is to honor a legislator who has proven to be a strong supporter of
adult education and lifelong learning. Candidates shall have utilized their influence in
their respective legislatures to promote and enhance lifelong learning opportunities for
the citizens of their state.

Learner of the Year Award
Selected at the discretion of the state hosting the annual conference
(no specific criteria).

Click HERE for the nomination form for the awards listed above